The issue of securing the release of Armenian detainees and hostages held in Baku could have been resolved during the August 8 meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, but it was not, said Edmond Marukyan, former Ambassador-at-Large and leader of the “Bright Armenia” party, in an interview with Pastinfo.
“I believe the issue of the prisoners and hostages in Baku could have been resolved during the meeting with President Trump on August 8, but it was not. Since it was not resolved, it means the issue was either not raised properly, or not raised at all — I don’t know,” Marukyan stated.
He noted that the Azerbaijani prosecutor has demanded life imprisonment for five Artsakh military and political leaders: former Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan, former Defense Army commander Levon Mnatsakanyan, National Assembly Speaker Davit Ishkhanyan, former deputy commander of the Defense Army Davit Manukyan, and former Foreign Minister Davit Babayan.
As for former Artsakh presidents Bako Sahakyan and Arkadi Ghukasyan, the senior assistant to Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General has requested 20-year prison sentences due to their age. Azerbaijani law does not allow sentencing former presidents over 65 years old to life imprisonment.
Marukyan recalled that President Trump spoke about the issue during the August 8 meeting: “He said that if he asked Aliyev, Aliyev would not refuse. But after that, whether he actually told Aliyev to release the prisoners or not — we don’t see it. We don’t see any statement from the Armenian side either, and therefore the issue remains unresolved. If someone is working on it, then they are ineffective, because there is no result.”
Commenting on the sentences demanded by the Baku prosecutor’s office, he stressed that it was extremely important for Armenia to issue strong statements. “But we see no statements, and no process is taking place. My impression is that we are tolerating what is happening in Azerbaijan. This is a very bad example from the perspective of a state protecting its citizens and blood relatives,” he said.
Asked whether this meant that the Armenian authorities have accepted the process, Marukyan said that even if the authorities are involved, they are not acting effectively, since there are no results.
Responding to whether the detainees could be returned early after sentencing, Marukyan said the only way would be a pardon by the President of Azerbaijan. “International practice shows that rulings do not change anything — if there is political will and there are negotiators doing real work, the issue can be resolved.”